Founded in 1972, CBPA serves as the legislative and regulatory advocate for individual companies as well as the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) California chapters, Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) California, California Downtown Association (CDA), and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and CCIM of Northern California, making CBPA the recognized voice of the commercial, industrial, and retail real estate industries in California representing over 11,000 companies.

* * * LATEST NEWS/INFORMATION * * *

***NEW*** CEQA GUIDELINES AND GREENHOUSE GASSES

The Governor’s Office of Planning & Research (OPR) has drafted amendments to the CEQA Guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions as required by Senate Bill 97 (SB 97). OPR will be holding two workshops to present the amendments and obtain input from the public. The workshops will include a presentation by OPR and the Resources Agency staff, an overview of the Preliminary Draft CEQA Guideline amendments, and the process for adopting the regulations by 2010.

Workshops will be held on January 22, 2009 in Los Angeles and on January 26, 2009 in Sacramento.

Click here to view the workshop agenda.
Click here to view the Preliminary Draft CEQA Guideline Amendments.

It is extremely important that our industry engage in this process. Your company/firm is highly encouraged to analyze the proposals, attend the workshops, and submit comments. This proceeding will change the template for the environment review process and must be informed by those with practical knowledge on the topic.

***NEW*** CEQA SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS FOR GREENHOUSE GASES

CBPA has led an effort to draft comments and assemble a large coalition of business and industry groups to help provide guidance to the ARB proceeding to set thresholds of significances. Click here to read the industry comments.

The coalition reccomends against the adoption of a straight numeric threshold. Additionally, we advise for the need of development of performance standards that recognize the divergent businesses in this state and problems associated with a pro forma model approach.

AB 32 SCOPING PLAN - CEQA COMMENTS
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is expected to adopt the AB 32 Scoping Plan on December 11, 2008. Developing workable and effective CEQA thresholds will be one of the critical steps in working to implement California’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

To help facilitate that goal, California Business Properties Association (CBPA) and California Building Industry Association (CBIA) have submitted a joint letter regarding the plan's “Recommended Approaches for Setting Interim Significance Thresholds for Greenhouse Gases under the California Environmental Quality Act” (CEQA).  Click here to read the CBIA/CBPA AB 32/CEQA Thresholds letter.

AB 32 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS BLASTED BY STATE'S OWN PEER REVIEW TEAM
The independent economic "peer review" team assembled by the Air Resources Board to analyze the AB 32 Regulatory Plan has concluded that the state has intentionally skewed analysis of the economic effects of the climate change plan to show positive outcomes

The state's analysis found a net increase in gross state product and individual earnings due to the proposed climate change policies through 2020.

However, all six economists on the review panel found the analysis flawed. Several stated they believe the state cherry-picked data to improve the plan's arguments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This independent economic analysis supports arguments and concerns that CBPA and other business and taxpayer groups have been expressing throughout the regulatory process.

Click here to read the ARB's AB 32 Peer Review of the Economic Supplement to the AB 32 Draft Scoping Plan.


***NEW*** AB 32 SCOPING PLAN BLASTED BY CA LEGISLATIVE ANALYST
Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis) and Assemblymember Roger Niello (R-Sacramento) asked the independent California Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) to report on the draft scoping plan of the Air Resources Board (CARB) for implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (better known as AB 32).

The LAO's report on the AB 32 Scoping Plan is highly critical of almost every aspect of the plan. Here is a summary of the LAO's conclusions:

"We conclude that (1) the scoping plan’s overall emissions reductions and purported net economic benefit are highly reliant on one measure—the Pavley regulations, (2) the plan’s evaluation of the costs and savings of some recommended measures is inconsistent and incomplete, (3) Macroeconomic modeling results show a slight net economic benefit to the plan, but ARB failed to demonstrate the analytical rigor of its findings, (4) economic analysis played a limited role in development of scoping plan, and (5) despite its prediction of eventual net economic benefit, the scoping plan fails to lay out an investment pathway to reach its goals for GHG emissions levels in 2020"

The LAO's conclusions support the many issues and concerns raised by CBPA and many other business and taxpayer groups. You can read the full report by clicking here: CA Legislative Analyst's Office report on AB 32 Scoping Plan.

Read a news account of the LAO analysis here.

***NEW*** SPLIT-ROLL PROPERTY TAX STUDY
A study that examines the potential economic impact of a split-roll property tax, taking into account how a split roll would affect the behavior of individuals and businesses who own commercial property, has been completed and distributed to policymakers in California. Click here to read the study entitled "The Economic Effects of California Adopting a Split Roll Property Tax."

CBPA serves on the executive committee for Californians Against Higher Property Taxes, a recently formed coalition of business and taxpayer groups with a mission to educate the public and policymakers about the devastating impacts of higher property taxes.  Although higher property taxes are very unpopular and voters have rejected them time and again, some policymakers and advocacy groups often push the issue as a way to raise additional tax revenue.

The study shows that such proposals for property tax increases will only hurt California consumers, seniors and taxpayers, and further damage our state’s struggling economy.

AB 32 SCOPING PLAN (OCTOBER RELEASE)
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has released the next version of state's historic greenhouse gas regulations. Known as "the AB 32 Scoping Plan" this document points to the future of how we do business in California. CBPA previously submitted a 12 page comment letter to CARB regarding the Draft Scoping Plan (including the appendices and economic analysis). Click below for the relevant documents (.pdf):

AB 32 Scoping Plan (October Release)

Industry comments on the AB 32 Draft Scoping Plan/Appendices/Economic Analysis.

2008 HIGH PRIORITY BILLS SUMMARY
In 2008, CBPA followed more than 500 bills that had a potential impact on our industry.  Many of those bills do not make it through the process or are amended in a way that resolve our concerns.  However, many bills that would have a major impact on the way you do business make it through the Legislative process and are sent to the Governor. For a comprehensive list of high priority bills, click here.

AB 32 SCOPING COMMENTS
The AB 32 Draft Scoping Plan / Appendices / and Economic Analysis has been out for public review and comment. These documents contain the details for plans to implement the landmark law, which mandates that California reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. Click here to read the Draft Scoping Plan and Appendices.

CBPA has solicited and collected comments from a broad array of members. Comments have been compiled and submitted to ARB on behalf of our industry. Click here to read CBPA's AB 32 Draft Scoping Plan/Appendices/Economic Analysis comment letter.

AB 32 GREEN BUILDING CARBON CREDIT / CARBON FOOTPRINT STUDY
As part of the AB 32 process, several major Real Estate Groups including CBPA, ICSC, NAIOP, and BOMA California have funded efforts to quantify energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, and to think through the most efficacious way to incent energy efficiency under the regulatory scheme. Click below for more information:

* Green Building Carbon Credit Proposal submitted to ARB.

* Non-Residential Carbon Footprint Study.

* Non-Residential Carbon Footprint Study PowerPoint


CALIFORNIA ADOPTS NATION'S FIRST STATEWIDE "GREEN" BUILDING CODE
California Business Properties Association (CBPA), applauds the action taken today by the California Building Standards Commission (BSC), to adopt the first set of statewide “green” building codes in the nation. Click here to read the CBPA press release, here to read a statement from the Governor, and here for the SCSA release.

Click here to read the actual California Green Codes along with the amendments taken during adoption hearing.

CBPA members representing all types of properties (commercial, industrial, and retail) have spent months working on iterations of this historic code and submitting comments through the public process and think this is a blueprint that will produce ever increasing sustainable building.

“Our members applaud the Governor for his leadership in encouraging our industry to adopt feasible and cost effective technologies that ultimately will produce some of the most sustainable buildings in the nation.  Adopting these codes through the existing iterative standards process is the best and quickest way to bring about this monumental change,” stated Rex Hime, CBPA President and CEO.